OTTAWA: Vancouver city council is considering charging homeowners an extra 0.5 per cent in property tax to pay for more resources to combat the fentanyl overdose crisis.
According to a report from city staff, the tax would raise about $3.5 million next year for the city’s contingency fund, which is needed to give staff more flexibility to respond to the public health emergency.
While the report says it is unclear if the fentanyl crisis has peaked or if it will worsen, the skyrocketing number of overdoses has already increased workload and stress for first responders. “It is unprecedented,” said Coun. Geoff Meggs. “It wasn’t something we discussed at all a year ago, and now we’re losing someone every day.”
Paramedics and firefighters work to revive an overdose patient. The report proposes a new medical unit for the Downtown Eastside, a new community policing centre in Strathcona and additional shelter space.
“The estimated cost of adding, for example, a single medic truck with three firefighters on it would be about $1.8 to $1.9 million — that would take almost half of the additional amount we’re proposing to put aside,” said Meggs.
The report also recommends additional training and mental health support for frontline workers, as well as more staff to help with overdose management at shelters and outreach centres.
